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ASUS Rampage V Extreme Review

ASUS Rampage V Extreme Closer Look:

While AI Suite III is an almost all inclusive package, it does not include all of the software packages included with the Rampage V Extreme. Added value software is included that, if purchased separately, would increase the end user costs. ASUS includes a full version of Kaspersky's highly rated antivirus software with a one year subscription. Daemon Tools disk virtualization software is also included to help save your game disks and make/burn disk images. Both an added value that can save you upwards of $40

MemTweakit is used to set the memory sub-timings from within the Windows environment. This tool features an efficiency score that will help you improve the memory performance of the modules installed. ASUS is currently working on a solution to get it working on the Haswell architecture. In the past, this tool has been a great addition to the ROG software package. ASUS has its own ROG skinned CPU-Z utility that sets up a point of difference from the standard version. The Boot setting tool is used to enable FastBoot and utilize the DirectKey function from within the OS environment rather than opening the chassis up or mounting an additional switch somewhere on the chassis. You will need this tool to get into the BIOS when FastBoot is enabled, since keyboard support is disabled during the FastBoot process.

Game First III is ASUS' own traffic shaping tool, to improve ping time and reduce latency by managing the traffic flow of ACK packets. You get an easy to follow EZ mode as well as a more granular look in the advanced mode. The Easy mode has presets that allow you to setup the traffic management for VOIP, File sharing, Gaming, or Media Streaming.

RamDisk is a new addition to the ROG package. The premise with this tool is that access to DRAM is much quicker than accessing an HDD or SSD to load files that you need either working in the OS and/or during gaming. RamDisk is a utility that takes excess DRAM capacity and creates a virtual disk so that you can drastically improve load times of applications or maps during gaming. ASUS makes this tool simple enough for even the novice to use. Most of us are not fully utilizing the 16 or 32GB of DRAM In our systems so why not take advantage of a way to improve the computing experience? At this point, DRAM is still relatively inexpensive. Creating an 8GB virtual drive is as simple as choosing the capacity with a slider and applying the change.

After a reboot, you can click on the Junction tab and add the applications or maps or games you would like to accelerate and you are done. Newer solid state drives with the latest controllers can have sequential read/write results in the 500 to 550MB/s range with that result at the high end of the spectrum. Running Crystal DiskMark on the RamDisk virtual drive gives a graphic example of just how fast this solution can be using DDR4 2800MHz memory. It's just brutally fast.

KeyBot is a new tool designed to improve the functionality of your keyboard. To start, simply plug your keyboard into the ROG Connect (KeyBot) USB port on the I/O panel and enable the software. Once enabled, you get control at the hardware level to wake the system from an S5 state, use the F11 key for the CPU Level Up function, F12 to set the XMP profile of your modules, and the DEL key to boot directly to the UEFI BIOS. Those seem to be standard fare, but further on you get the ability to set macro keys, use the Smart Login feature to log in with a single key stroke, assign functions to the F keys, and setup shortcuts to open files or games. It all adds up to a tool that can make any keyboard you are comfortable with into a gaming powerhouse keyboard.

Sonic Radar is a newer tool in the ROG arsenal. Some have alluded to this software being used as a cheat, but if you are using surround sound speakers or a headset with surround capabilities, you are doing the same thing; using the sound system and your ears. Sonic Radar is a graphic representation of the sounds you hear. The key is the visual interface that works to point out the sounds direction; a bonus if you are not utilizing a surround speaker system or headset. There are separate modes that can be optimized for footsteps, bombs, or gunfire. Shortcuts can be used to move the interface or change the transparency level as well as toggle though the user modes. Overall, it's a pretty cool tool for those of us that are less than good at FPS gaming. Using the test feature you can get an idea of how the software works.

That wraps up the look at the full featured software package, it not only helps the casual overclocker, but the more experienced tweaker as well, while being fully aimed at the target market user.